The free concert was attended by thousands of people including a number of Israeli politicians and foreign diplomats.

"It is a gesture for this young man and his family in order to tell the world that four years without a single visit is too long," said the conductor, Zubin Mehta, before the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra played.

"We have an obligation to dream and we want Gilad Shalit, in the first instance, to receive Red Cross visits, and then to be freed as soon as possible."

The soldier's family started a 12-day march last week from their home in northern Israel to Jerusalem to protest against his capture and put pressure on the Israeli government to secure a deal for his release.

Monday was the ninth day of the march. Gilad Shalit's father, Noam Shalit, called on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to use all resources to free his son.

Speaking at the site of his son's capture, he said: "Gilad is physically close to us but at the same time very far from us.

"If people had done the right thing back then, Gilad would be with us now."